Holiday Season Holiday Season Background

It all started when Moses Claus (of Chrismukkah) and Chanukah Harry hatched a plan. All of the winter holidays live in the shadow of Christmas, but Moses Claus saw which way the wind was blowing. It would be better to try to get a part of the psychic real estate by joining forces into a several month long holiday called Holiday Season.

So, he worked with Chanukah Harry to call a meeting of all the representatives of the holidays to try to find a way they can join forces. But, only Moses Claus and Chanukah Harry know that Moses Claus is not the real representative of Christmas.

Combining holidays has certainly been done before. Holidays change and grow. Many patriotic holidays, such as President’s Day are the result of the merger of holidays. This is a game of negotiations and contracts.

But then it gets worse. One by one, more Santa wannabes start entering the deliberations, and the characters must choose which one is the right Santa. Regardless of which one they choose, that is now Santa Claus, the representative of Christmas. This could radically change what we think of Christmas.

Setup

You should try to get a nice table, like one found in a hotel boardroom.

Each character gets a tent card with their name and holiday on it as well as a character sheet. There is also a file for envelopes if you wish, but they are optional. Note that while the tent cards and envelopes are in color, they will print just fine on a greyscale printer.

The harried clerk starts with the Diamond of Time. If you have a prop, say a fist sized crystal, or ball, great. Otherwise, you may use the Diamond of Time item “card” at the end of this document.

Santa 5 (Odin) should have contingency envelopes to give to the Oak King and the Holly King. Again, actual envelopes are optional, and you can just fold them over if you wish.

Chanukah Harry is leading the deliberations.

A water station might be nice. Discussion is thirsty work.

Runtime

You don’t have to do much during runtime. Start the game with Santa Clauses 2-6 outside of the room and have them enter one every 3-5 minutes or so.

1 of 39 Holiday Season Characters

Potential Santas: Holidays of Holiday Season:

Potential Santas should arrive in this order. You The Holiday characters should be cast in this at least want the first four. order. You at least want the first seven.

Moses Claus (of Chrismukkah) Chanukah (Chanukah Harry) Saint Nicholas Ramadan (The Prophet Mohammed) Krampus Kwanzaa (Maulana) Santa Claus Boxing Day (frantic shopper male/female) Odin (from Yule) Black Friday (Harried Clerk male/female) The Prophet Zarathustra (Holy day commemorating New Years Eve (Father Time) his death on the 26 th ) Festivus (Head of the Household) Yule (Oak King and Holly King) (two chars) Junkanoo (Junkanoo dancer male/female) Bodhi Day (Buddha) Oh-harai-taisai (Shinto Priest)

2 of 39 Holiday Season What is going on?

Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited you here to discuss merging all of your lands to form Holiday Season. This would allow you all to gain a great deal of power, but you would have to share it with others, and there is the risk that you’d lose your Holiday’s uniqueness via assimilation. You have been gathered for hours, socializing and chatting, but now the real negotiations are about to begin.

There are several issues that need to be hammered out. As you read your character sheet, consider how your character might feel on these issues. Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should feel strongly about at least one.

Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we want to merge our holidays into the new land. Keeping our traditions preserves our individual identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our overall land will be. Without some degree of assimilation, we might as well not merge at all. And if we do not merge, some of the smaller holidays risk being forgotten altogether.

Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls.

Leadership of the new Holiday: Santa Claus and Hannukah Harry presume that they will lead, but not everyone shares in that agreement. Just because they are leading this roundtable, doesn’t mean they will lead the new land. You need to make sure that your holiday has adequate representation.

3 of 39 Holiday Season Chanukah Harry

About Chanukah Claus had a plan. He would pretend to be Santa for the conference. They look alike after all. With Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, is a celebration of your backing, the others would believe he was the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of Santa and represented Christmas. the Jerusalem Temple. It also commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for 8 days And once he was assumed to be the real Santa, eventually he would transition into the role. He said On Chanukah, you light the menorah (a candelabra) it has happened before in Christmas, and that the every night, and you play a game with a top called current Santa is completely unlike his predecessor, Dreidel. Gifts are traditionally given during and that before that, Christmas wasn’t about giving Chanukah. The traditional food of Chanukah is gifts at all. potato latkes. You found that shocking and hard to believe. After About You all, Chanukah is a much older land that Christmas. But something about Moses Claus’ words rang true. You are, more or less, the spiritual leader of the Maybe Christmas – and Chanukah weren’t always minor holiday of Chanukah. You share the role of the way they were now. Maybe holidays could leader with a schlub named Judah Macabee who is change that easily. more interested in lighting candles and praying in the temple than giving gifts and playing dredel But what about the real Santa Claus? Moses Claus games. Oy. just smiled and said that Santa would be taken care of. You decided not to press the issue. You represent the fun side of Chanukah, the good, practical gift like socks. And spinning a little top So, here you are. You want a community land, over and over again. And even that annoying Adam where all the component holidays get equal rights. Sandler song. Hoo boy, that never gets old. You want a homeland for each holiday. You want all the holidays to aid each other for the greater But you are tired that Chanukah is still considered a good. And you want Holiday Season to be minor holiday. And now you have a chance to do recognized. No more “Merry Christmas” or something about that. “Happy New Year,” it would be just “Happy Holidays” for all the seasons. You were recently visited by Moses Claus from the newly formed holiday land of Chrismukkah. Now Roleplaying Hint normally you don’t care for that goyim, but he had a plan that seemed foolproof. Play him like Jon Lovitz. Be ultra Jewish.

You had heard that many of the patriotic holidays What is going on? had once joined together and now they have a powerful holiday land. Well, maybe all of the Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited you winter Holidays could join together and form here to discuss merging all of your lands to form Holiday Season, a powerful land comprised of all Holiday Season. This would allow you all to gain a the Holidays from the end of November until great deal of power, but you would have to share it January first. with others, and there is the risk that you’d lose your Holiday’s uniqueness via assimilation. You But you would need Christmas’s help and that have been gathered for hours, socializing and wouldn’t be easy. You know Santa Claus would chatting, but now the real negotiations are about to never go for it. Christmas is too powerful and he begin. wouldn’t want to lose the prestige. But Moses 4 of 39 Holiday Season There are several issues that need to be hammered Father Time (New Years Eve): A kindly old guy. out. As you read your character sheet, consider He should be a pushover. how your character might feel on these issues. Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should Head of the Household (Festivus): He/She is so feel strongly about at least one. apathetic, you’ll be lucky to get his/her vote on anything. Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we want to merge our holidays into the new land. Oak King and Holly King (Yule): You still don’t Keeping our traditions preserves our individual get why Yule had to send two representatives. And identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our why do they bicker so much? overall land will be. Without some degree of assimilation, we might as well not merge at all. Junkanoo dancer (Junkanoo): All he/she wants And if we do not merge, some of the smaller to do is party. holidays risk being forgotten altogether. Buddha (Bodhi Day): This one, all he ever says is Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to “clever” platitudes. “suffering is universal” my power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is fanny! How could you suffer while eating a plate of fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The delicious latkes. Well, unless the latkes were still Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and too hot in which case you’d burn your tongue. support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls. Shinto Priest (Oh-harai-taisai): Like the Buddha, Leadership of the new Holiday: Santa Claus and this one thinks he is so wise. Well, if he’d get off Hannukah Harry presume that they will lead, but his yinyang and act, something could get done not everyone shares in that agreement. Just because around here, maybe? they are leading this roundtable, doesn’t mean they will lead the new land. You need to make sure that your holiday has adequate representation.

The Other Characters:

Moses Claus (Chrismukkah): He is pretending to be Santa Claus, and you are helping with the charade. You should support his ideas.

The Prophet Mohammed (Ramadan): This Shlameil really gets on your nerves. It’s like he has it in for you.

Maulana (Kwanzaa): He must be the most paranoid man you’ve ever met. We’re not trying to keep him down; we’re trying to work together to raise you all up.

Frantic Shopper (Boxing Day): Oy, you wish he’d/she’d calm down a little.

Harried Clerk (Black Friday): Likewise, this one will have a heart attack if he/she isn’t careful!

5 of 39 Holiday Season The Prophet Mohammed

About Ramadan part of a larger group of holidays, and form Holiday Season. You have been asked to ignore your Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim background and assimilate. You are unsure. You calendar. It begins with the sighting of the new do not want to lose your identity, but if you go moon after which all physically mature and healthy against the others, you risk your holiday fading into Muslims are obliged to abstain from all food, drink, nothingness. gum chewing, any kind of tobacco use, and any kind of sexual contact between dawn and sunset. For one thing, it seems like Chanukah Harry is However, that is merely the physical component of setting himself up to be leader of Holiday Season. the fast; the spiritual aspects of the fast include You do not trust him. There has long been an refraining from gossiping, lying, slandering and all enmity between the lands of Chanukah and traits of bad character. All obscene and irreligious Ramadan and you suspect that whatever he is sights and sounds are to be avoided. Purity of planning, he wants Chanukah to have the advantage thought and action is paramount. at your expense.

Ramadan is the celebration of the delivery of the But the most important thing to you is that you and Quran to the Prophet Mohammed by the Archangel your holiday be respected and that your traditions Gabriel. not be diminished.

The Five Pillars of Islam Roleplaying Hint

1. The profession of faith in Allah (Shahadah) - the Mohammed is a solemn figure, but you should not declaration that there is none worthy of worship be afraid to be loud and angry when you need to be. except Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger. What is going on? 2. Prayer (Salat) - establishing of the five daily Prayers. Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited you 3. The paying of alms (Zakât) - which is generally here to discuss merging all of your lands to form 2.5% of the total savings for a rich man working Holiday Season. This would allow you all to gain a in trade or industry, and 10% or 20% of the great deal of power, but you would have to share it annual produce for agriculturists. This money or with others, and there is the risk that you’d lose produce is distributed among the poor. Also, your Holiday’s uniqueness via assimilation. You one may give 25% of found treasure such as have been gathered for hours, socializing and money won in a non-gambling lottery. chatting, but now the real negotiations are about to 4. Fasting (Sawm) - refraining from eating, begin. drinking or satisfying sexual needs from dawn to dusk in the month of Ramadan, the ninth There are several issues that need to be hammered month in the Islamic lunar calendar. out. As you read your character sheet, consider 5. The Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) - this is done how your character might feel on these issues. during the month of Zul Hijjah, and is Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should compulsory once in a lifetime for one who has feel strongly about at least one. the ability to do it. Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we About You want to merge our holidays into the new land. Keeping our traditions preserves our individual You have been asked here to make your important identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our holiday, the holiest of the four holy months, to be overall land will be. Without some degree of

6 of 39 Holiday Season assimilation, we might as well not merge at all. And if we do not merge, some of the smaller Buddha (Bodhi Day): While you may be able to holidays risk being forgotten altogether. tolerate holidays that recognize a god that is like Allah, you are less sanguine with the inclusion of Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to holidays that do not recognize any sort of god. power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The Shinto Priest (Oh-harai-taisai): Likewise. The Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and Shinto worshippers believe in thousands of gods, support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls. but you know there is but one, and you are His prophet! Leadership of the new Holiday: Santa Claus and Hannukah Harry presume that they will lead, but not everyone shares in that agreement. Just because they are leading this roundtable, doesn’t mean they will lead the new land. You need to make sure that your holiday has adequate representation.

The Other Characters:

Santa Claus (Christmas): He seems jolly, but is a shrewd negotiator. Since Christmas has the most to offer and the least to gain by this arrangement, he holds most of the cards.

Chanukah Harry (Chanukah): You have an immediate dislike for this neurotic little man. You suspect that he is trying to cheat you in some way.

Maulana (Kwanzaa): Like you, he believes that Chanukah and Christmas are conspired against him, but he seems to be taking it personally.

Frantic Shopper (Boxing Day): A very nervous man/woman. He/she seems to want everything.

Harried Clerk (Black Friday): You are afraid he/she will keel over at any minute.

Father Time (New Years Eve): He seems so nice, but you think he might be hiding something.

Head of the Household (Festivus): Why did he/she bother to come to this meeting if he/she is just going to sidetrack it?

Oak King and Holly King (Yule): All these two do is bicker. They offer nothing.

Junkanoo dancer (Junkanoo): All he/she wants to do is party. 7 of 39 Holiday Season Mulana

About Kwanzaa About You

Kwanzaa is a unique African American celebration The Man has been keeping you and your brothers with focus on the traditional African values of and sisters down long enough! You created your family, community responsibility, commerce, and Holiday Land just a scant few years ago, based on self-improvement. It is a time of reaffirming the traditions you saw in the holiday lands of your African-American people, their ancestors and ancestors. culture. Kwanzaa, means “first fruits of the harvest” in the African language Kiswahili. It was founded Well, actually, you just made them up. Really. in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga (that’s you). But you have managed to gather enough belief that Kwanzaa is based on the Nguzo Saba (seven your Holiday has gained prominence and you have guiding principles), one for each day of the gained power. And it’s all about the Belief. observance, and is celebrated from December 26th to January 1st. But now, the Man has wised up to your activities and you are here to defend your Holiday from being • Umoja (oo-MO-jah) Unity stresses the taken over. Oh, you’re all for cooperating, as long importance of togetherness for the family and as there is something in it for you. the community, which is reflected in the African saying, "I am We," or "I am because We are." Roleplaying Hint

• Kujichagulia (koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-yah) Self- Mix the Reverend Jesse Jackson with Al Sharpton, Determination requires that we define our spice liberally with Marion Barry. Don’t know who common interests and make decisions that are in these people are? Play him like Huey from the the best interest of our family and community. Boondocks. • Ujima (oo-GEE-mah) Collective Work and Responsibility reminds us of our obligation to What is going on? the past, present and future, and that we have a role to play in the community, society, and Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited you world. here to discuss merging all of your lands to form • Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah) Cooperative economics Holiday Season. This would allow you all to gain a emphasizes our collective economic strength great deal of power, but you would have to share it and encourages us to meet common needs with others, and there is the risk that you’d lose through mutual support. your Holiday’s uniqueness via assimilation. You have been gathered for hours, socializing and • Nia (NEE-yah) Purpose encourages us to look chatting, but now the real negotiations are about to within ourselves and to set personal goals that begin. are beneficial to the community. • Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) Creativity makes use There are several issues that need to be hammered of our creative energies to build and maintain a out. As you read your character sheet, consider strong and vibrant community. how your character might feel on these issues. Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should • Imani (ee-MAH-nee) Faith focuses on honoring feel strongly about at least one. the best of our traditions, draws upon the best in ourselves, and helps us strive for a higher level Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we of life for humankind, by affirming our self- want to merge our holidays into the new land. worth and confidence in our ability to succeed Keeping our traditions preserves our individual and triumph in righteous struggle. 8 of 39 Holiday Season identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our Oak King and Holly King (Yule): All these two overall land will be. Without some degree of do is bicker. They offer nothing. assimilation, we might as well not merge at all. And if we do not merge, some of the smaller Junkanoo dancer (Junkanoo): Brother, calm holidays risk being forgotten altogether. down and sharpen up. He is so stoned that he doesn’t even realize how the man is keeping him Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to down. You hate drugs nearly as much as the Man. power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is Drugs are just another tool that the Man uses to fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The suppress opposition. Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls. Buddha (Bodhi Day): You can’t get a good handle on him. Is he an oppressor or the oppressed? Leadership of the new Holiday: Santa Claus and Hannukah Harry presume that they will lead, but Shinto Priest (Oh-harai-taisai): Likewise. not everyone shares in that agreement. Just because they are leading this roundtable, doesn’t mean they will lead the new land. You need to make sure that your holiday has adequate representation.

The Other Characters:

Santa Claus (Christmas): The Man! Look at that jolly fat white man sitting as the king of the hill. Isn’t that always the way. And the only time he takes time to notice you is to find another way to oppress you.

Chanukah Harry (Chanukah): Also The Man. Everyone knows that Jews have a secret cabal that controls all of the wealth in the world. He is out to get you and everything you stand for.

The Prophet Mohammed (Ramadan): Your Brother. While you do not follow his ways, he is your brother in oppression and you should support him.

Frantic Shopper (Boxing Day): You cannot stand such materialism. Calm yourself.

Harried Clerk (Black Friday): Another figure oppressed by the wealthy minority. Break free of your shackles!

Father Time (New Years Eve): Another old white guy. Not to be trusted.

Head of the Household (Festivus): Yeah, whatever.

9 of 39 Holiday Season Frantic Shopper

About Boxing Day Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited you here to discuss merging all of your lands to form Boxing Day is a public holiday observed in many Holiday Season. This would allow you all to gain a Commonwealth countries on December 26th. In great deal of power, but you would have to share it many European countries it is also a holiday, called with others, and there is the risk that you’d lose St. Stephen’s Day. your Holiday’s uniqueness via assimilation. You have been gathered for hours, socializing and Boxing Day was traditionally celebrated by giving chatting, but now the real negotiations are about to gifts and donations to the poor and needy, but now begin. it is all about returning unwanted presents and trying to find bargains in an after Christmas There are several issues that need to be hammered shopping frenzy. out. As you read your character sheet, consider how your character might feel on these issues. About You Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should feel strongly about at least one. You are the representative of Boxing Day. You are a frantic shopper. In your Holiday land you flit Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we from store to store, trying to find the best bargains. want to merge our holidays into the new land. You are crass consumerism at its worst. Keeping our traditions preserves our individual identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our And you are Boxing Day’s shrewdest overall land will be. Without some degree of representative. You know how to search for the assimilation, we might as well not merge at all. best bargains. You know to turn your nose up at And if we do not merge, some of the smaller lesser values. And you have the tightest wallet in holidays risk being forgotten altogether. all the holiday lands. Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to You want a holiday land that will make you feel at power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is home, one that caters to the most consumerist ways fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The possible. You want all sorts of decorations and Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and gifts, the more superficial the better. support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls.

Some holidays might want to keep the spirits or Leadership of the new Holiday: Santa Claus and their traditions, but you would like to see the new Hannukah Harry presume that they will lead, but Holiday Season ruled by the Almighty Dollar. not everyone shares in that agreement. Just because they are leading this roundtable, doesn’t mean they Roleplaying Hint will lead the new land. You need to make sure that your holiday has adequate representation. You are charged with energy, frantic with your desire for values. Be animated and energetic like The Other Characters: you’re on your 12 th cup of coffee for the morning. And don’t accept anyone’s first offer. Ever. Santa Claus (Christmas): Ho ho ho. He thinks Although, if they hold out, you want it and you that he can hide his power with a jolly exterior. want it now ! Christmasland holds all the cards, they have the best merchandise, and the choicest goods. And you are What is going on? just the person to buy them all.

10 of 39 Holiday Season Chanukah Harry (Chanukah): Chanukah is certainly the second richest of the lands, with a great deal of goods. But you suspect this Chanukah Harry will be a shrewd negotiator.

The Prophet Mohammed (Ramadan): You can’t get a handle on this guy. Whose side is he on?

Maulana (Kwanzaa): What a jerk.

Harried Clerk (Black Friday): Heh, you’ve seen his/her kind before. You know how to deal with this type.

Father Time (New Years Eve): He thinks he’s so wise because he’s been around forever. Well, you’ll show him.

Head of the Household (Festivus): You have no clue what this dude is all about. Does he/she want there to be a Holiday Season or not?

Oak King and Holly King (Yule): All these two do is bicker. They are like two middle-aged women both trying to get the same hot toy for their kids.

Junkanoo dancer (Junkanoo): Again, you just don’t understand this one. How can someone be so relaxed? It makes no sense.

Buddha (Bodhi Day): Likewise. His calmness unnerves you.

Shinto Priest (Oh-harai-taisai): So does his. It’s creepy!

11 of 39 Holiday Season Harried Clerk

About Black Friday There are several issues that need to be hammered Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in the out. As you read your character sheet, consider United States, is historically one of the busiest retail how your character might feel on these issues. shopping days of the year. Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should feel strongly about at least one. Your holiday land is a new one, only a few decades old, younger even than Kwanzaa. But you are Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we quickly gaining power as you serve your Corporate want to merge our holidays into the new land. Masters and they reward you with Almighty Keeping our traditions preserves our individual Dollars. identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our overall land will be. Without some degree of About You assimilation, we might as well not merge at all. And if we do not merge, some of the smaller You are the representative of Black Friday. In your holidays risk being forgotten altogether. Holiday land try to keep the stockroom full, and deal with the throngs of frantic shoppers who Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to demand your attention. It’s isn’t a fun job but its power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is necessary. fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and The most important thing about your land is that support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls. you have eschewed Belief for the Almighty Dollar. You refuse to join any holiday group that focuses Leadership of the new Holiday: Santa Claus and on Belief. You serve your corporate masters well. Hannukah Harry presume that they will lead, but not everyone shares in that agreement. Just because Recently, you stole the Diamond of Time from New they are leading this roundtable, doesn’t mean they Years Eve. It is a fine diamond and will fetch a fine will lead the new land. You need to make sure that price on the open market. You have it with you your holiday has adequate representation. now. The Other Characters: Roleplaying Hint Santa Claus (Christmas): Oh how you loathe this You are tired and snappy. Growl at people when man. He gives out gifts every year. What about you aren’t getting your way. Sulk. Whine. Take your margin, your bottom line? He is taking bread sanity breaks every once in a while. from the mouths of your children.

What is going on? Chanukah Harry (Chanukah): Again, another gift giver. Doesn’t he realize that gifts cost money? Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited you Oh, you need a break already. here to discuss merging all of your lands to form Holiday Season. This would allow you all to gain a The Prophet Mohammed (Ramadan): At least great deal of power, but you would have to share it his holiday land isn’t about gifts, but it is also anti- with others, and there is the risk that you’d lose money, so you doubt you’ll be able to get along. your Holiday’s uniqueness via assimilation. You have been gathered for hours, socializing and Maulana (Kwanzaa): What a jerk. chatting, but now the real negotiations are about to begin.

12 of 39 Holiday Season Frantic Shopper (Boxing Day): Heh, you’ve seen his/her kind before. You know how to deal with this type. Just hold back, and they’ll be dying for whatever you offer.

Father Time (New Years Eve): He seems so calm. What is he hiding?

Head of the Household (Festivus): You have no clue what this dude is all about. Does he/she want there to be a Holiday Season or not?

Oak King and Holly King (Yule): All these two do is bicker. They are like two middle-aged women both trying to get the same hot toy for their kids.

Junkanoo dancer (Junkanoo): Again, you just don’t understand this one.

Buddha (Bodhi Day): You wish you could be as calm and centered as he is. He must be hiding something.

Shinto Priest (Oh-harai-taisai): He’s just plain creepy.

13 of 39 Holiday Season Father Time

About New Year’s Eve with others, and there is the risk that you’d lose your Holiday’s uniqueness via assimilation. You New Year's Eve is on December 31, the final day of have been gathered for hours, socializing and the Gregorian year, and the day before New Year's chatting, but now the real negotiations are about to Day. begin.

New Year's Eve is a separate observance from the There are several issues that need to be hammered observance of New Year's Day. In modern Western out. As you read your character sheet, consider practice, New Year's Eve is celebrated with parties how your character might feel on these issues. and social gatherings spanning the transition of the Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should year at midnight. feel strongly about at least one.

Many cultures use fireworks and other forms of Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we noise making in part of the celebration. Some of the want to merge our holidays into the new land. cities most well-known for their celebrations Keeping our traditions preserves our individual include Edinburgh, Sydney, Toronto, Moscow, identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Berlin, overall land will be. Without some degree of Rio de Janeiro, Paris, and New York City. assimilation, we might as well not merge at all. And if we do not merge, some of the smaller Recently, someone stole the Diamond of Time, a holidays risk being forgotten altogether. large diamond sphere that falls at midnight and marks the changing of the year. Without the Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to Diamond of Time, there will be no New Year, and power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is time will stop at the end of the year! You have fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The come to this conference because you suspect that it Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and was stolen by another holiday. support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls.

About You Leadership of the new Holiday: Santa Claus and Hannukah Harry presume that they will lead, but You are a kindly old man. You carry a scythe. not everyone shares in that agreement. Just because they are leading this roundtable, doesn’t mean they You are a bit worried about the Diamond of Time. will lead the new land. You need to make sure that That’s far more important to you than this your holiday has adequate representation. conference. The Other Characters: But you have to play your cards carefully. You can’t let them know that the diamond is missing or Santa Claus (Christmas): You’ve never met that you suspect some of them may know more Santa, but you’ve spoken. He seems a bit off for about what is going on. But you need to know what some reason, but regardless, he must be trustworthy. they know. And you need someone to trust. He’s Santa Claus, after all.

What is going on? Chanukah Harry (Chanukah): What possible reason could he have for stealing the diamond? He Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited you might be completely innocent, but you have a here to discuss merging all of your lands to form feeling deep in your heart that he is being duped by Holiday Season. This would allow you all to gain a someone as well. great deal of power, but you would have to share it

14 of 39 Holiday Season The Prophet Mohammed (Ramadan): Given his holiday and his nature, it is doubtful he had anything to do with your problems.

Maulana (Kwanzaa): So full of hate. Would that hate drive a man to steal?

Frantic Shopper (Boxing Day): Well, this sort of consumer easily has motive: greed.

Harried Clerk (Black Friday): Another one who is obsessed with greed. Maybe he/she stole the diamond to sell it.

Head of the Household (Festivus): Is this person really that clueless and apathetic, or is it a cover?

Oak King and Holly King (Yule): All these two do is bicker. You can’t get a good read on them.

Junkanoo dancer (Junkanoo): He seems so relaxed, so unlike a criminal, but look how he’s dressed. You wonder if he stole the diamond for decoration.

Buddha (Bodhi Day): According to him, he shuns material possessions, so he probably didn’t steal the diamond.

Shinto Priest (Oh-harai-taisai): He seems so calm, so in touch with the world around him. He just doesn’t strike you as a thief.

15 of 39 Holiday Season Head of the Household

About Fustivus Roleplaying Hint

Festivus is a nondenominational holiday featured in You are an apathetic trouble maker. You win the an episode of Seinfeld. Many people, influenced or game if you can make all of the other characters inspired by Seinfeld, now celebrate the holiday in laugh out loud. varying degrees of seriousness. Some do it religiously, others do it in good tidings in their What is going on? respect to Seinfeld. Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited you Festivus is celebrated each year on December 23, here to discuss merging all of your lands to form but many people celebrate it other times, often in Holiday Season. This would allow you all to gain a early December. Its slogan is “A Festivus for the great deal of power, but you would have to share it rest of us!” An aluminum pole is generally used in with others, and there is the risk that you’d lose lieu of a Christmas tree or other holiday decoration. your Holiday’s uniqueness via assimilation. You Those attending participate in the “Airing of have been gathered for hours, socializing and Grievances” which is an opportunity for all to vent chatting, but now the real negotiations are about to their hostilities toward each other, and after a begin. Festivus dinner, The Feats of Strength are performed. Traditionally, Festivus is not over until There are several issues that need to be hammered the head of the household is wrestled to the floor out. As you read your character sheet, consider and “pinned.” how your character might feel on these issues. Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should About You feel strongly about at least one.

You are the Head of the Household of Festivus. Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we You decide what happens and when in your small want to merge our holidays into the new land. community which consists of your house, your Keeping our traditions preserves our individual family, and a 10 foot tall aluminum pole. identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our overall land will be. Without some degree of You are quite happy living in your anti-Holiday assimilation, we might as well not merge at all. holiday. Real holidays are way too much work. And if we do not merge, some of the smaller You want no part of that. holidays risk being forgotten altogether.

No, you enjoy relaxing and eating a simple meal of Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to meatloaf and beer. You just don’t care. power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The And that’s why you are having so much fun. All Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and the other holiday representatives are so tense, but support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls. you like letting the air out of those stuffed shirts. So, you play along, making deals and hen not Leadership of the new Holiday: Santa Claus and holding up to them. Or making increasingly bizarre Hannukah Harry presume that they will lead, but demands, just for fun. not everyone shares in that agreement. Just because they are leading this roundtable, doesn’t mean they After all, what’s the worst that could happen? Your will lead the new land. You need to make sure that holiday stays just the way it is, and that’s the way your holiday has adequate representation. you like it. The Other Characters:

16 of 39 Holiday Season

Santa Claus (Christmas): He may seem jolly, but he’s deadly serious about this. He’s fun to prank.

Chanukah Harry (Chanukah): The ultimate straight man. You love playing jokes at his expense.

The Prophet Mohammed (Ramadan): There must be a way to get under his skin.

Maulana (Kwanzaa): Ahhh, perfect. You are certain with a few well placed words you can get him to explode all over Santa Claus.

Frantic Shopper (Boxing Day): Oooh, you bet you could give this guy a heart attack.

Father Time (New Years Eve): He’s worried about something, but you aren’t sure what.

Harried Clerk (Black Friday): Yeah, you love to make the vein in this dude’s forehead throb like it was mamboing.

Oak King and Holly King (Yule): There must be a way to play these two against each other.

Junkanoo dancer (Junkanoo): Finally, someone as relaxed about this whole thing as you are.

Buddha (Bodhi Day): His veneer of outer calm betrays something. Hm.

Shinto Priest (Oh-harai-taisai): He doesn’t seem to like Buddha, although he’s too polite to say anything. You can use that.

17 of 39 Holiday Season The Oak King

About Yule Either way, each King represents different ideas. The time of the Oak King is for growth, Yule was the winter solstice celebration of the development, healing, and new projects. The Holly Germanic pagans. It is one of the eight solar King's time is for rest, reflection, and learning. holidays, or sabbats. Yule is celebrated on the winter solstice: in the northern hemisphere, circa Because the two of you co-lead your holiday, you December 21. have both come to this celebration.

Yule is celebrated with gatherings that often involve Roleplaying Hint a meal and gift giving. The holiday is observed in a manner that commemorates the death of the Oak You hate the Holly King. Unfortunately, due to it King identified with the wren bird (symbolizing the being his time of the year, he tends to win the old year and the shortened sun) at the hands of his arguments. Regardless, no matter what he wants, son and successor, the robin redbreast Holly King you want the opposite. The others should have their (the new year and the new sun that begins to grow). hands full trying to get the two of you to work together. About You You want a land full of new ideas and The Holly King and the Oak King are part of Celtic developments. You want to work with others to mythology, and they represent two sides to the build a cooperative land where all the ideas can Greenman, or Horned God. foster together side by side into a glorious unified whole. They battle twice a year, once at Yule and once at Midsummer (Litha) to see who would rule over the What is going on? next half of the year. At Yule, the Oak King wins and at Litha, the Holly King is victorious. In other Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited you words, the Oak King rules over the lighter half of here to discuss merging all of your lands to form the year, and the Holly King over the darker half. Holiday Season. This would allow you all to gain a The change from one to the other is a common great deal of power, but you would have to share it theme for rituals at Yule, and also at Midsummer. with others, and there is the risk that you’d lose your Holiday’s uniqueness via assimilation. You Another version of the Holly King and Oak King have been gathered for hours, socializing and symbolism, is that they do not directly switch places chatting, but now the real negotiations are about to twice a year, but rather both live simultaneously. begin. The Oak King is born at Yule, and his strength grows through the spring, peaks at Beltane and then There are several issues that need to be hammered he weakens and dies at Samhain. The Holly King out. As you read your character sheet, consider lives a reverse existence, and is born at Midsummer, how your character might feel on these issues. waxes more powerful through the summer and fall, Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should to his peak at Samhain. His influence then lessens feel strongly about at least one. until Beltane, when it is his turn to pass away. In this perspective, the two Kings enjoy a more Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we intricate interplay of power and is perhaps a better want to merge our holidays into the new land. illustration of their duality. At any given time, they Keeping our traditions preserves our individual both exist but have varying levels of influence identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our throughout the year. overall land will be. Without some degree of assimilation, we might as well not merge at all.

18 of 39 Holiday Season And if we do not merge, some of the smaller Buddha (Bodhi Day): You rather like him. He holidays risk being forgotten altogether. understands that life is suffering.

Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to Shinto Priest (Oh-harai-taisai): He seems to be power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is closer to the Holly King and therefore your sworn fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The enemy. Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls.

The Other Characters:

Santa Claus (Christmas): You don’t like him. He reminds you of the Holly King.

Chanukah Harry (Chanukah): You like him; he’s your kinda guy.

The Prophet Mohammed (Ramadan): You can’t understand his point of view at all.

Maulana (Kwanzaa): He is so full of hate. How can someone live that way? Sure, you hate the Oak King, but he seems to hate everything.

Frantic Shopper (Boxing Day): If he would just sit still for a few minutes, maybe you could understand what he’s saying.

Father Time (New Years Eve): He doesn’t seem to favor one of you over the other. He needs to choose.

Harried Clerk (Black Friday): He’s not going be useful at all.

Head of the Household (Festivus): If he won’t care about you, why should you care about him?

Holly King (Yule): You cannot stand him. He is the epitome of everything you hate.

Junkanoo dancer (Junkanoo): Whatever.

19 of 39 Holiday Season The Holly King

They battle twice a year, once at Yule and once at What is going on? Midsummer (Litha) to see who would rule over the next half of the year. At Yule, the Oak King wins Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited you and at Litha, the Holly King is victorious. In other here to discuss merging all of your lands to form words, the Oak King rules over the lighter half of Holiday Season. This would allow you all to gain a the year, and the Holly King over the darker half. great deal of power, but you would have to share it The change from one to the other is a common with others, and there is the risk that you’d lose theme for rituals at Yule, and also at Midsummer. your Holiday’s uniqueness via assimilation. You have been gathered for hours, socializing and Another version of the Holly King and Oak King chatting, but now the real negotiations are about to symbolism, is that they do not directly switch places begin. twice a year, but rather both live simultaneously. The Oak King is born at Yule, and his strength There are several issues that need to be hammered grows through the spring, peaks at Beltane and then out. As you read your character sheet, consider he weakens and dies at Samhain. The Holly King how your character might feel on these issues. lives a reverse existence, and is born at Midsummer, Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should waxes more powerful through the summer and fall, feel strongly about at least one. to his peak at Samhain. His influence then lessens until Beltane, when it is his turn to pass away. In Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we this perspective, the two Kings enjoy a more want to merge our holidays into the new land. intricate interplay of power and is perhaps a better Keeping our traditions preserves our individual illustration of their duality. At any given time, they identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our both exist but have varying levels of influence overall land will be. Without some degree of throughout the year. assimilation, we might as well not merge at all.

20 of 39 Holiday Season And if we do not merge, some of the smaller Buddha (Bodhi Day): The Oak King seems to like holidays risk being forgotten altogether. him, so you dislike him.

Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to Shinto Priest (Oh-harai-taisai): He is in touch power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is with nature, and you can appreciate that. fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls.

The Other Characters:

Santa Claus (Christmas): You like him. He seems very sympathetic.

Chanukah Harry (Chanukah): You don’t like him. He reminds you of the Oak King.

The Prophet Mohammed (Ramadan): You can’t understand his point of view at all.

Maulana (Kwanzaa): He is so full of hate. How can someone live that way? Sure, you hate the Holly King, but he seems to hate everything.

Frantic Shopper (Boxing Day): If he would just sit still for a few minutes, maybe you could understand what he’s saying.

Father Time (New Years Eve): He doesn’t seem to favor one of you over the other. He needs to choose.

Harried Clerk (Black Friday): He’s not going be useful at all.

Head of the Household (Festivus): If he won’t care about you, why should you care about him?

Oak King (Yule): You cannot stand him. He is the epitome of everything you hate.

Junkanoo dancer (Junkanoo): Whatever.

21 of 39 Holiday Season Junkanoo Dancer

About Junkanoo Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should feel strongly about at least one. Junkanoo is a street parade with music, which occurs in many towns across the Bahamas every Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we December 26 and New Year's Day. The largest want to merge our holidays into the new land. Junkanoo happens in Nassau, the capital. Keeping our traditions preserves our individual identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our Junkanoo groups "rush" from 12:00 AM until overall land will be. Without some degree of shortly after dawn, to the music of cowbells, in assimilation, we might as well not merge at all. costumes made from cardboard covered in tiny And if we do not merge, some of the smaller shreds of colourful crepe paper competing for cash holidays risk being forgotten altogether. prizes. Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to About You power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The You are from the best group in town. You sew Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and costumes and train all year then dance your feet off. support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls.

Junkanoo is a party, a celebration, a time to get wild Leadership of the new Holiday: Santa Claus and and crazy. Think of it like Mardi Gras only with Hannukah Harry presume that they will lead, but ganja instead of booze and 25% fewer breasts. not everyone shares in that agreement. Just because they are leading this roundtable, doesn’t mean they As long as you can keep partying, you don’t really will lead the new land. You need to make sure that care much about anything else about Holiday your holiday has adequate representation. Season. The Other Characters: Roleplaying Hint Santa Claus (Christmas): This jolly old soul still Yeah, mon, de Bahamas, de a lot like Jamaica, mon. needs to lighten up. He’s too tense, mon. Do your best Bob or Ziggy Marley impersonation and you’ll be fine. Chanukah Harry (Chanukah): You’ve never seen anyone so uptight. How do they party in his What is going on? holiday anyway?

Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited you The Prophet Mohammed (Ramadan): Likewise. here to discuss merging all of your lands to form He seems so tense, he will snap. Holiday Season. This would allow you all to gain a great deal of power, but you would have to share it Maulana (Kwanzaa): He keeps calling you with others, and there is the risk that you’d lose brother. You ain’t his brother, mon. He is a hater, your Holiday’s uniqueness via assimilation. You and you are a player. have been gathered for hours, socializing and chatting, but now the real negotiations are about to Frantic Shopper (Boxing Day): OK, maybe there begin. is someone more uptight than Chanukah Harry.

There are several issues that need to be hammered Father Time (New Years Eve): Y’know, he is up out. As you read your character sheet, consider to something. He keeps looking at everyone else how your character might feel on these issues. like he’s searching for something.

22 of 39 Holiday Season

Harried Clerk (Black Friday): This guy’s got a haunted look about him.

Head of the Household (Festivus): At last, someone who understands that Holidays are all about relaxing.

Holly King and Oak King (Yule): These two bicker and fight. They need to relax.

Buddha (Bodhi Day): Hey, he seems calm, but not in a party way. You should see if you can cheer him up.

Shinto Priest (Oh-harai-taisai): He’s calm too, and maybe even happy.

23 of 39 Holiday Season Buddha

About Bodhi Day 2. Right Thoughts means to turn away from the hypocrisies of this world and to direct our minds The prince, Siddhartha Gautama, left his home and toward Truth and Positive Attitudes and Action. family and all his possessions behind at the age of 29 to discover the meaning of life, particularly its 3. Right Speech means to refrain from pointless and hardships. After six years of rigorous discipline and harmful talk... to speak kindly and courteously to asceticism under the guidance of a number of spiritual all. teachers, he still hadn't found what he was looking for. 4. Right Conduct means to see that our deeds are While traveling with a small group of fellow seekers, peaceable, benevolent, compassionate and pure... he went off by himself, broke his fast, and sat down and to live the Teachings daily. under a pipal tree and vowed not to arise until he understood. He sat through the week, day and night, 5. Right Livelihood means to earn our living in such and on the eighth morning came to the realization a way as to entail no evil consequences. To seek which became the founding principles of what the that employment to which can give our complete modern world calls Buddhism. enthusiasm and devotion.

Bodhi Day--usually observed December 8 or the 6. Right Effort means to direct our efforts Sunday immediately preceding, is the date, according continually to the overcoming of ignorance and to Mahayana tradition, of Siddhartha Gautama’s craving desires. realization and presentation to his fellow seekers of the Four Noble Truths: 7. Right Mindfulness means to cherish good and pure thoughts, for all that we say and do arises 1. All beings are subject to suffering. No one from our thoughts. escapes... suffering is universal. 8. Right Meditation means to concentrate on the 2. The cause of suffering is Ignorance. And Oneness of all life and the Buddhahood that exists Ignorance of oneself is the greatest Ignorance. within all beings.

3. Ignorance, the cause of suffering, can be Bodhi day is observed simply with tea, cake, overcome, and meditation and readings.

4. The way to overcome Ignorance is the Eightfold About You Path. You are the Buddha. You have obtained From that point forward, he was referred to as the enlightenment. You are always calm and relaxed. If Buddha, the Enlightened One. you feel yourself losing this placid state, you take a step back and meditate on the four noble truths and The Buddha-Dharma is the realization within one’s the eightfold path until the feeling passes. deepest consciousness of the Oneness of all life. For the attainment of this purpose, Buddha showed us the Bodhi day land is very very small. It consists of Eightfold Path. yourself, a small temple, a pipal tree and a few monks. It does not have power, as the other holidays do, but it 1. Right Views means to keep ourselves free from has what is sufficient for its needs. prejudice, superstition and delusion... and to see aright the true nature of life. While you can understand the desire to have more power – more power means more celebrants and it would bring you pleasure if more people followed the eightfold path – you know that power will not stop the

24 of 39 Holiday Season suffering the other holiday characters believe they Santa Claus (Christmas): He is too wrapped in the feel. material world. Life is more than toys and candy canes. You can help lead them to enlightenment. You cannot give them enlightenment. You can show them the Chanukah Harry (Chanukah): He is perhaps the path, but they must walk it themselves. least enlightened man you have ever met. He has far to travel. And that is what you truly want. You do not care for temporal power. No, you wish those around you to be The Prophet Mohammed (Ramadan): He seems more enlightened. Guide them. like he could accept enlightenment, but you sense an undercurrent of resentment in his words. What is going on? Maulana (Kwanzaa): Oh, he has hate in his heart. Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited you He believes his suffering is caused by other people. here to discuss merging all of your lands to form But suffering is caused by ignorance. He would be Holiday Season. This would allow you all to gain a helped by learning the truth of the Eightfold path, but great deal of power, but you would have to share it you feel the need to meditate after speaking to him with others, and there is the risk that you’d lose your every time. Holiday’s uniqueness via assimilation. You have been gathered for hours, socializing and chatting, but Frantic Shopper (Boxing Day): If you can teach now the real negotiations are about to begin. him/her some simple koans, he/she would thank you for it. There are several issues that need to be hammered out. As you read your character sheet, consider how your Father Time (New Years Eve): He has great character might feel on these issues. Unless it suffering. He needs to learn. explicitly says you do not care, you should feel strongly about at least one. Harried Clerk (Black Friday): Another whose suffering is great. Teaching him/her to meditate Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we want would be a great gift. to merge our holidays into the new land. Keeping our traditions preserves our individual identities, but the Head of the Household (Festivus): In his/her own closer we merge, the stronger our overall land will be. strange way, he/she may be the most enlightened one Without some degree of assimilation, we might as of the others here. You would speak to him of an well not merge at all. And if we do not merge, some alliance. of the smaller holidays risk being forgotten altogether. Holly King and Oak King (Yule): They each blame Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to each other for their suffering. power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The Almighty Junkanoo Dance (Junkanoo): He seems relaxed, Dollar will provide constant power and support, but but it is an artificial enlightenment. perhaps at the cost of our souls. Shinto Priest (Oh-harai-taisai): You believe that he Leadership of the new Holiday: Santa Claus and is in touch with nature and the world. Yet, he seems Hannukah Harry presume that they will lead, but not tense when he speaks with you. You are unsure why. everyone shares in that agreement. Just because they are leading this roundtable, doesn’t mean they will lead the new land. You need to make sure that your holiday has adequate representation.

The Other Characters:

25 of 39 Holiday Season Shinto Priest

About Oh-harai-taisai The most immediately striking theme in the Shinto religion is a great love and reverence for nature. Shinto can be seen as a form of animism and may Thus, a waterfall, the moon, or just an oddly shaped be regarded as a variety of shamanist religion. rock might come to be regarded as a kami; so might Shinto beliefs and ways of thinking are deeply charismatic persons or more abstract entities like embedded in the subconscious fabric of modern growth and fertility. As time went by, the original Japanese society. The afterlife is not a primary nature-worshipping roots of the religion, while concern in Shinto, and much more emphasis is never lost entirely, became attenuated and the kami placed on fitting into this world, instead of took on more reified and anthropomorphic forms, preparing for the next. Shinto has no binding set of with a formidable corpus of myth attached to them. dogma, no holiest place for worshippers, no person or kami deemed holiest, and no defined set of Though Shinto has no absolute commandments for prayers. Instead, Shinto is a collection of rituals and its adherents outside of living "a simple and methods meant to mediate the relations of living harmonious life with nature and people", there are humans to kami. said to be "Four Affirmations" of the Shinto spirit:

In Shinto, kami are understood as the divine forces • Tradition and the family: The family is seen as of nature. The worshippers of the Shinto religion in the main mechanism by which traditions are ancient Japan revered creations of nature which preserved. Their main celebrations relate to exhibited a particular beauty and power such as birth and marriage. waterfalls, mountains, boulders, animals, trees, • Love of nature: Nature is sacred; to be in grasses and even rice paddies. They strongly contact with nature is to be close to the kami. believed the spirits or resident kami deserved Natural objects are worshipped as containing respect. sacred spirits. • Physical cleanliness: Followers of Shinto take Shinto believers also adhere to kami having an baths, wash their hands, and rinse out their anthropomorphic form with the ability to act and mouth often. communicate, as in a kind of avatar. They could not • "Matsuri": Any festival dedicated to the Kami, be seen by men. However, they were not of which there are many each year. omnipotent and omnipresent. About You Oh-harai-taisai is the Shinto Grand Purification Ceremony. It is observed twice a year so that people You are a simple priest of the Shinto, here to serve can purify themselves of offenses they have the Kami. Every year, you weave a large wreath of committed during the previous half of the year. As grass and then all who are in Oh-harai-taisai-land part of the ceremonies, Japanese worshippers step through, kami and human alike. typically walk through a large ring of woven grass upon entering the shrines for observances. You are deeply spiritual and in touch with nature. You feel somewhat uncomfortable here in this Purity and, therefore, purification, lies at the heart artificial space, but you are naturally calm. Even of Shinto beliefs. Inside every shrine is a vessel of here, you can tell that the table and the chairs have water which is used for ritual ablutions which their own kami that can be reached with prayer and involve the rinsing of the hands and the mouth meditation. before one is permitted to approach the image of the kami. Such acts, known generally as oharai, restore However, Oh-harai-taisai-land is shrinking. internal balance to the body. Valuable shines have been destroyed or taken over.

26 of 39 Holiday Season Other holidays, such as Bodhi Day, have taken over your lands. The Other Characters:

You are here to join forces with the other lands – Santa Claus (Christmas): Alas, though you do not yes even Bodhi Day – so that your land can survive. wish to dishonor his holiday, you fear that it is All you ask is that Holiday Season not be incompatible with your beliefs. commercial the way Christmas is turning out to be. Instead you want to be peaceful and naturalistic, Chanukah Harry (Chanukah): His as well. He is more interested in the spirit of the holiday than the far too materialistic and interested in rules instead materialistic gift giving. of nature.

What is going on? The Prophet Mohammed (Ramadan): He is spiritual, but does not recognize nature. Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited you here to discuss merging all of your lands to form Maulana (Kwanzaa): You can see the truth: this Holiday Season. This would allow you all to gain a man cares only for himself. great deal of power, but you would have to share it with others, and there is the risk that you’d lose Frantic Shopper (Boxing Day): He/She needs to your Holiday’s uniqueness via assimilation. You be calm and allow him/herself to regain touch with have been gathered for hours, socializing and the kami. chatting, but now the real negotiations are about to begin. Father Time (New Years Eve): He has lost something dear, you can tell. There are several issues that need to be hammered out. As you read your character sheet, consider Harried Clerk (Black Friday): He/She spends how your character might feel on these issues. too much time serving others. Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should feel strongly about at least one. Head of the Household (Festivus): He does not seem very spiritual. Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we want to merge our holidays into the new land. Holly King and Oak King (Yule): These two Keeping our traditions preserves our individual bicker and fight which is a shame as they are both identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our servants of nature. overall land will be. Without some degree of assimilation, we might as well not merge at all. Junkanoo Dancer (Junkanoo): He does not seek And if we do not merge, some of the smaller the deeper understanding of the world around him. holidays risk being forgotten altogether. Buddha (Bodhi Day): Alas, it is an unfortunate Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to truth that you shall never truly appreciate the power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is Buddha. Bodhi Day, when it was formed, fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The eventually grew to take a good part of your land, Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and and your land is the worse for it. While you support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls. understand that it is not the Buddha’s fault, you still cannot entirely find it in your heart to forgive him. Leadership of the new Holiday: Santa Claus and Hannukah Harry presume that they will lead, but not everyone shares in that agreement. Just because they are leading this roundtable, doesn’t mean they will lead the new land. You need to make sure that your holiday has adequate representation. 27 of 39 Holiday Season Santa Claus 1

About You eternity. Some of those lands are less than fifty years old. You are not in fact Santa Claus. You are secretly Moses Claus from Chrismukkah. Chrismukkah is a Now, think of Chrismukkah. Your land is the combination of Christmas and Chanukah, and is conglomeration of two holiday lands, sometimes sometimes called Chritsmaquanzica as well. more. What if you were able to combine all the winter holiday lands, say from the day after You look like Santa Claus, but you are more Thanksgiving to New Years into one? secular. Your holiday is so small that you do not actually have a holiday land. That is why you are Your Holiday Season could easily be the biggest, here. You are trying to create one. most powerful land out there and you would be de facto its spiritual leader. Because you have no holiday land, you have been spending your time in the Caves of Lost Rejection. But you knew that Santa Claus would object to such This is where characters go when their holiday a plan. He needed to be removed from the equation. lands die or do not want them any more. It is the sorriest collection of misfits you have ever been So you went to Chanukah Harry, and the two of you unfortunate enough to be part of. hatched this plan. You would take care of Santa Claus and he would organize a gathering of all the But not any more. You have a plan. After talking winter holidays. You managed to kidnap Santa in a to other forgotten holiday representatives you sack and he is tied up in a tree in the hinterlands. learned something very important. Now you are pretending to be Santa Claus, and – as It seems that the lands are always changing, but the long as the others believe you are Santa Claus – you denizens of those lands don’t seem to remember. will eventually become Santa Claus. Or maybe Take Christmas for example, arguably the most Moses Claus would become the leader of Holiday powerful of the lands. Before there was Santa Season, and that would be the way it has always Claus, there was Saint Nicholas. And before there been. Either way, as long as Holiday Season is was Saint Nicholas, there was somebody called formed, you cannot lose. Jesus. And before that, Christmas didn’t exist at all and the lands were part of a different holiday called Additional Background Yule. Christmanukah is the most inclusive holiday ever. But if you ask the denizens of Christmas, they will It combines the best parts of Christmas and have no idea what you are talking about. As far as Chanukah, like cookies and potato latkes. You get they are concerned, Christmas is about giving gifts twenty days of presents: twelve for Christmas, eight and decorating trees and mistletoe and it always has for Chanukah. been. There is something about the holiday magic that makes people forget the past. Strange. The only other denizens of Christmanukah is a reindeer with a yarmulke and the Macabee elves, Then look at Patriotland. Patriotland used to be but you’re hoping to expand. People decorate their several different holidays that all merged together houses with stockings filled with dreidels, and the for protection. The 4 th of July, President’s Day, menorah wreath, and the mazeltov mistletoe. Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, and others. The oldest of these Lands is just over 200 As Moses Claus, you come down the chimney and years, but they think they have been there for part the bowl of eggnog. You’re Kringle kosher!

28 of 39 Holiday Season All of these jokes were stolen whole cloth from The they are leading this roundtable, doesn’t mean they Strangerhood. will lead the new land. You need to make sure that your holiday has adequate representation. One Final Note The Other Characters: You desperately want Holiday Season to be formed, to the point that you don’t really care about its Chanukah Harry (Chanukah): He is in on the structure or the identities of the individual holidays. scheme and you need to work with him as he could All you care about is that you’ll be in charge. blow it all sky high.

At some point other Santa Clauses may start The Prophet Mohammed (Ramadan): His fiery arriving. The other characters will have to choose nature may make it difficult to convince him. who the real Santa Claus is. You’d like it to be you. Perhaps you should just give in to any of his demands. What is going on? Maulana (Kwanzaa): He is practically insane. Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited you He’ll be a hard sell. here to discuss merging all of your lands to form Holiday Season. This would allow you all to gain a Frantic Shopper (Boxing Day): You understand great deal of power, but you would have to share it the siren call of rampant consumerism, but this with others, and there is the risk that you’d lose person needs to calm down. your Holiday’s uniqueness via assimilation. You have been gathered for hours, socializing and Father Time (New Years Eve): You have long chatting, but now the real negotiations are about to suspected that lonely Father Time would be begin. interested in joining forces with other holidays.

There are several issues that need to be hammered Harried Clerk (Black Friday): You think you out. As you read your character sheet, consider can sell this as long as you are calm and soothing. how your character might feel on these issues. Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should Head of the Household (Festivus): He doesn’t feel strongly about at least one. seem interested, but maybe if you tried reverse psychology he might jump on board. Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we want to merge our holidays into the new land. Holly King and Oak King (Yule): Yule still Keeping our traditions preserves our individual exists? You wonder if these two know that it used identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our to be bigger than Christmas. overall land will be. Without some degree of assimilation, we might as well not merge at all. Junkanoo Dancer (Junkanoo): Another very And if we do not merge, some of the smaller small holiday that you don’t really need. Still, the holidays risk being forgotten altogether. purpose of Holiday Season is to be all inclusive.

Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to Buddha (Bodhi Day): Likewise, it would be a real power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is feather in your cap to include this little known fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The holiday. Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls. Shinto Priest (Oh-harai-taisai): You barely can understand a word he is saying. Leadership of the new Holiday: Santa Claus and Hannukah Harry presume that they will lead, but not everyone shares in that agreement. Just because 29 of 39 Holiday Season Santa Claus 2

About You Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we want to merge our holidays into the new land. You are not in fact Santa Claus. You are secretly Keeping our traditions preserves our individual Saint Nicholas, the former leader of Christmasland, identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our banished forever when Santa Claus took over. overall land will be. Without some degree of assimilation, we might as well not merge at all. You look like Santa Claus, but you are more And if we do not merge, some of the smaller religious. You believe that Christmas should be a holidays risk being forgotten altogether. time of joy and celebration, a chance to worship your Lord and your Creator. It shouldn’t be a Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to holiday about toys and gifts. That is too crass for power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is such a divine birthday. fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and You have been banished to your Feast Day on support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls. December 6 th . But now you have a chance to regain your glory and reshape Christmas in your image. Leadership of the new Holiday: Santa Claus and All you have to do is be accepted as Santa Claus. Hannukah Harry presume that they will lead, but not everyone shares in that agreement. Just because What is going on? they are leading this roundtable, doesn’t mean they will lead the new land. You need to make sure that Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited your holiday has adequate representation. several Holiday leaders to discuss merging all of their lands to form Holiday Season. This would Additional Background allow them to gain a great deal of power, but they would have to share it with others, and there is the Saint Nicholas is the Patron Saint of seafarers, risk that they’d lose their Holiday’s uniqueness via scholars, bankers, pawnbrokers, jurists, brewers, assimilation. They have been gathered for hours, coopers, travelers, perfumers, unmarried girls, socializing and chatting, but now the real brides, robbers and especially children. negotiations are about to begin. Saint Nicholas, like St. Wenceslaus and St. Lucy, You, and several other fake Santas, have come here was a saint. He was the bishop of a city named to meet the Christmas characters to try to convince Myra in Turkey in the early part of the fourth them that you are the real Santa Claus. Whichever century. His feast day is December 6th because he one of you is chosen becomes the real Santa for the died on December 6 or 7 in the middle of the fourth rest of the game, and perhaps forever, potentially century. Feast days celebrate the entry of the saint's radically changing the nature of Christmas forever. soul into Heaven.

You should arrive about five minutes after the The most famous story told about St. Nicholas has game starts. to do with three young sisters who were very poor. Their parents were so poor that they did not have There are several issues that need to be hammered enough money for the daughters to get married. out. As you read your character sheet, consider Every young girl needed money to pay for the how your character might feel on these issues. wedding and to set up house for themselves. Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should feel strongly about at least one. Nicholas heard about this family and wanted to help them, but he did not want anyone to know that he was the one who was helping them. So, he climbed

30 of 39 Holiday Season up on their roof three nights in a row and threw gold coins down their chimney so that they would land in the girls' stockings, which had been hung by the fire to dry. After two of his daughters had been able to marry because of the money mysteriously appearing in their stockings, the father was determined to find out who was helping them, so he hid behind the chimney the next night. Along came Bishop Nicholas with another bag of money.

When he was discovered, he asked the father not to tell anyone else, but the father wanted everyone to know what a good and generous man the Bishop Nicholas was, so he told everyone he knew. That is how we have the story and the tradition of stocking full of gifts today.

The Other Characters:

Santa Claus 1: You don’t know who he is, but he is not the “real” Santa Claus.

Santa Claus 4: Ah, that’s Kris Kringle. He might be considered the real Santa Claus now, but if you are voted Santa Claus then you would be the real one.

The Oak King and the Holly King: They seem quite familiar. You may have heard of them from somewhere.

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About You tree in the Hinterlands. You suspect that Moses Claus would use a sack or a disguise so that Santa You are not in fact Santa Claus. You are secretly wouldn’t know who did it. Krampus, a Germanic satyr who used to follow Santa around and punish the naughty children. What is going on? Normally, you look very much like a traditional devil with red skin, horns, and hairy cloven hooves. Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited Oh, and you have a 12” tongue which makes you several Holiday leaders to discuss merging all of very popular with the ladies, indeed. their lands to form Holiday Season. This would allow them to gain a great deal of power, but they You were spending time in the Caves of Lost would have to share it with others, and there is the Rejections, a place where characters go when their risk that they’d lose their Holiday’s uniqueness via holidays don’t want them any more, when you ran assimilation. They have been gathered for hours, into a man with a plan. socializing and chatting, but now the real negotiations are about to begin. You happened to overhear Moses Claus, the leader of Christmukkah plot with Hannukah Harry to You, and several other fake Santas, have come here change Christmas forever. to meet the Christmas characters to try to convince them that you are the real Santa Claus. Whichever They want to combine all the winter holidays into one of you is chosen becomes the real Santa for the one with Santa Claus in the lead, except that Moses rest of the game, and perhaps forever, potentially Claus would pretend to be Santa. Apparently radically changing the nature of Christmas forever. anyone who was accepted as Santa Claus, would eventually become Santa Claus and be able to rule You should arrive about three minutes after the Christmas however he wished. previous Santa Claus (#2) does.

You had a brilliant idea, visions of punishing nasty There are several issues that need to be hammered children and getting it on with their hot MILF out. As you read your character sheet, consider mommas dancing in your head. You would how your character might feel on these issues. disguise yourself as Santa Claus and try to be Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should accepted at the meeting as the real head of feel strongly about at least one. Christmas. Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we So, now you look and sound just like Santa Claus. want to merge our holidays into the new land. And if you can get the other characters to accept Keeping our traditions preserves our individual you, you can be Santa Claus forever, and eventually identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our show your true form, too. overall land will be. Without some degree of assimilation, we might as well not merge at all. By the way, your disguise is malleable and you can And if we do not merge, some of the smaller drop all or part of it at any time and then bring it holidays risk being forgotten altogether. back up at will, in case, for example, you want Krampus to appear in all his glory, or you want Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to Santa to have a foot long tongue. power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The Also, since you know that Moses Claus was Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and planning to kidnap Santa and tie him up, you should support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls. tell people that you were kidnapped and tied up to a

32 of 39 Holiday Season Leadership of the new Holiday: Santa Claus and advances. But not protesting too much. After all, he Hannukah Harry presume that they will lead, but had a foot-long red tongue. not everyone shares in that agreement. Just because they are leading this roundtable, doesn’t mean they A cottage industry in Austria from Victorian times will lead the new land. You need to make sure that through the present has been the production of your holiday has adequate representation. Krampus postcards to commemorate the holiday season. These tend to feature Krampus and his Additional Background prodigious tongue assailing various Betti Page-type pinup girls (or even pure-hearted Austrian (Shamelessly stolen from rotten.com) housefraus) with his lecherous advances.

Krampus is one of those quirky survivals of a pagan The Other Characters: tradition that preceded Christianity. Much like Santa himself. Santa Claus is a Christianization of a Santa Claus 1: Moses Claus. You should handful of traditional winter solstice figures, who denounce him as soon as possible to show that you morphed into St. Nicholas after the Catholics are the real Santa Claus. swarmed into Austria. Hannukah Harry: The leader of Hannukah. He’s The tradition is primarily an Austrian thing, a package of neuroses and might be easily although it spread erratically around Europe. There intimidated into doing your bidding. are two takes on Krampus, one being a secular humanist approach and the other being a magic Santa Claus 4: Ah, that’s Kris Kringle. He might tradition angle. be considered the real Santa Claus now, but if you are voted Santa Claus then you would be the real In the secular humanist approach, Krampus and the one. observation of Krampus traditions are pretty much just the antithesis of Santa Claus. On Dec. 5, the eve of the feast day of St. Nick, Austrians celebrate Krampus by running across the city in grotesque masks and generally scaring children.

In other variations on the theme (and there a lot of variations considering what a relatively small geographical area we're talking about here), Krampus is one of Santa's minions, who follows along obediently passing out presents or switches depending on the moral turpitude of the child in question.

The other interpretation of Krampus is more mystical. Under this theory, people dress up in the hideous masks of Krampus in order to scare off evil spirits.

Once the Christians criminalized orgiastic excess, the Krampus-fertility nexus evolved into more of a taboo-stalker kind of scenario, in which the devilish figure, traditionally depicted with a swollen foot- long red tongue, malevolently thrusts himself on nubile women who are eternally "protesting" his 33 of 39 Holiday Season Santa Claus 4

About You and boots, became popular in the United States in the 19th century due to the significant influence of You are the actual Santa Claus. You had taken a caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. trip with Rudolph to the Island of Misfit Toys and while you were left alone, someon snuck up on you This image has been maintained and reinforced and stuffed you in your own magic sack. You through song, radio, television, and films. In the couldn’t escape. United Kingdom and Europe, his depiction is often identical to the American Santa, but he is You were brought through the Hinterlands and tied commonly called Father Christmas. to a tree. You couldn’t see your captor since you were in your sack. One legend associated with Santa says that he lives in the far north, in a land of perpetual snow. The You were eventually able to coax some friendly American version of Santa Claus lives at the North squirrels to untie the sack and you hotfooted it Pole, while Father Christmas is said to reside in toward the closest holiday you could find to get Lapland. Other details include: that he is married your bearings. and lives with Mrs. Claus; that he makes a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them And that is how you ended up here. You don’t according to their behavior; that he delivers know what is going on, but something is definitely presents, including toys, candy, and other presents wrong here. to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal or sticks to the naughty children, in What is going on? one night; and that he accomplishes this feat with the aid of magical elves who make the toys, and You don’t know what is going on. You don’t know eight or nine flying reindeer who pull his sleigh. why there are so many imitators here. You are the real Santa Claus! The Other Characters:

You should arrive about five minutes after the Santa Claus 2: He is actually Saint Nicholas, the previous Santa Claus (#3) does. former incarnation of Santa Claus. You don’t know why he would be here claiming he was you. Additional Background Santa Claus 3: He seems familiar, but you don’t You are Santa Claus and shouldn’t make mistakes know why. with your history, but you are slightly disoriented from your ordeal, and it is possible you might slip The Oak King and the Holly King: They also up. seem faintly familiar, but you aren’t sure why.

Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply "Santa", is the ghost of Saint Nicholas who, in Western cultures, is described as bringing gifts on Christmas Eve, December 24. The legend may have its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of Saint Nicholas.

The modern depiction of Santa Claus as a fat, jolly man (or gnome) wearing a red coat and trousers with white cuffs and collar, and black leather belt

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About You how your character might feel on these issues. Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should You are not in fact Santa Claus. You are secretly feel strongly about at least one. Odin, the highfather from Yule and the one that Santa Claus was most likely based off of. Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we want to merge our holidays into the new land. You still live in the holiday of Yule, where you tend Keeping our traditions preserves our individual the Yule log. You are bitter that you have lost your identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our position of prominence. You were once allfather, overall land will be. Without some degree of leader of your pantheon, but times changed and assimilation, we might as well not merge at all. Saint Nicholas then Santa Claus took over. And if we do not merge, some of the smaller holidays risk being forgotten altogether. When you heard that there was going to be a conference about Holiday Season, that the Oak Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to King and the holly King would be attending, you power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is knew you had to be there too. fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and If you could be accepted as Santa Claus, then you support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls. could lead this new Holiday Season and Yule would again gain the prominence it once had. Leadership of the new Holiday: Santa Claus and Hannukah Harry presume that they will lead, but What is going on? not everyone shares in that agreement. Just because they are leading this roundtable, doesn’t mean they Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited will lead the new land. You need to make sure that several Holiday leaders to discuss merging all of your holiday has adequate representation. their lands to form Holiday Season. This would allow them to gain a great deal of power, but they Additional Background would have to share it with others, and there is the risk that they’d lose their Holiday’s uniqueness via Yule was the winter solstice celebration of the assimilation. They have been gathered for hours, Germanic pagans. It is one of the eight solar socializing and chatting, but now the real holidays, or sabbats. Yule is celebrated on the negotiations are about to begin. winter solstice: in the northern hemisphere, circa December 21. You, and several other fake Santas, have come here to meet the Christmas characters to try to convince Yule is celebrated with gatherings that often involve them that you are the real Santa Claus. Whichever a meal and gift giving. The holiday is observed in one of you is chosen becomes the real Santa for the a manner that commemorates the death of the Oak rest of the game, and perhaps forever, potentially King identified with the wren bird (symbolizing the radically changing the nature of Christmas forever. old year and the shortened sun) at the hands of his son and successor, the robin redbreast Holly King You should arrive a few minutes after the previous (the new year and the new sun that begins to grow). Santa Claus (#4) does. Make sure to get there before any confessions to holiday treason are Prior to the Germanic peoples' conversion to made, if possible. Christianity, Germanic folklore contained stories about the god Odin (Wodan), who would each year, There are several issues that need to be hammered at Yule, have a great hunting party accompanied by out. As you read your character sheet, consider

35 of 39 Holiday Season his fellow gods and the fallen warriors residing in You have information sheets for the Oak and his realm. Holly King to give them when you arrive.

Children would place their boots, filled with carrots, straw or sugar, near the chimney for Odin's flying horse, Sleipnir, to eat. Odin would then reward those children for their kindness by replacing Sleipnir's food with gifts or candy.

The Other Characters:

The Oak King and the Holly King: The Holly King and the Oak King are part of Celtic mythology, and they represent two sides to the Greenman, or Horned God.

They battle twice a year, once at Yule and once at Midsummer (Litha) to see who would rule over the next half of the year. At Yule, the Oak King wins and at Litha, the Holly King is victorious. In other words, the Oak King rules over the lighter half of the year, and the Holly King over the darker half. The change from one to the other is a common theme for rituals at Yule, and also at Midsummer.

Another version of the Holly King and Oak King symbolism, is that they do not directly switch places twice a year, but rather both live simultaneously. The Oak King is born at Yule, and his strength grows through the spring, peaks at Beltane and then he weakens and dies at Samhain. The Holly King lives a reverse existence, and is born at Midsummer, waxes more powerful through the summer and fall, to his peak at Samhain. His influence then lessens until Beltane, when it is his turn to pass away. In this perspective, the two Kings enjoy a more intricate interplay of power and is perhaps a better illustration of their duality. At any given time, they both exist but have varying levels of influence throughout the year.

Either way, each King represents different ideas. The time of the Oak King is for growth, development, healing, and new projects. The Holly King's time is for rest, reflection, and learning.

The absolutely hate each other, but they should recognize you and support your bid for Santa.

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GM: Give these sheets to Santa #5 to give out when he arrives.

Oak King Contingency Sheet

Hey! You recognize that Santa!

That’s Odin, the keeper of the Yule log from Yuletown. He often claimed that the concept of Santa Claus was based on him, so he must be here trying to take over the mantle again.

Should he be chosen as the real Santa Claus, it could be a huge boon for Yule. You need to support him any way you can, even if it mean working with the Holly King to do it.

Holly King Contingency Sheet

Hey! You recognize that Santa!

That’s Odin, the keeper of the Yule log from Yuletown. He often claimed that the concept of Santa Claus was based on him, so he must be here trying to take over the mantle again.

Should he be chosen as the real Santa Claus, it could be a huge boon for Yule. You need to support him any way you can, even if it mean working with the Oak King to do it.

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About You Unless it explicitly says you do not care, you should feel strongly about at least one. You are not in fact Santa Claus. You are secretly The Prophet Zarathustra, who looks a whole bunch Tradition vs. Assimilation: How closely do we like Santa Claus. want to merge our holidays into the new land. Keeping our traditions preserves our individual You do not have a holiday land, per se. You identities, but the closer we merge, the stronger our wander the Hinterlands with few followers and little overall land will be. Without some degree of belief. assimilation, we might as well not merge at all. And if we do not merge, some of the smaller However, this could change in one of two ways. If holidays risk being forgotten altogether. you could be accepted as Santa Claus, you could merge your Holiday with Christmastown. This is a Belief vs. Almighty Dollars: How do we want to longshot. power our holidays? Belief can be strong, but is fickle and can leave at a moment’s notice. The More likely, you could try to become part of Almighty Dollar will provide constant power and Holiday Season. There is a holiday support, but perhaps at the cost of our souls. commemorating your death on December 26 th , and that falls within the purview of Holiday Season. Leadership of the new Holiday: Santa Claus and You will have to see if they accept you. Hannukah Harry presume that they will lead, but not everyone shares in that agreement. Just because What is going on? they are leading this roundtable, doesn’t mean they will lead the new land. You need to make sure that Chanukah Harry and Santa Claus have invited your holiday has adequate representation. several Holiday leaders to discuss merging all of their lands to form Holiday Season. This would Additional Background allow them to gain a great deal of power, but they would have to share it with others, and there is the Zoroastrianism was once the state religion of risk that they’d lose their Holiday’s uniqueness via Sassanid Iran, and played an important role in the assimilation. They have been gathered for hours, Achaemenid as well as Parthian empires in Persia or socializing and chatting, but now the real more properly Iran. The religion is also known as negotiations are about to begin. Mazdaism by some followers and Zarathustrianism by others. You, and several other fake Santas, have come here to meet the Christmas characters to try to convince Zoroastrian areas once stretched from Anatolia as them that you are the real Santa Claus. Whichever the religion of the Mede in what is now modern day one of you is chosen becomes the real Santa for the Kurdistan to the Persian Gulf, and its followers rest of the game, and perhaps forever, potentially once numbered in the millions. Its followers today, radically changing the nature of Christmas forever. located in South Asia, Iran, and throughout the diaspora, number much less. You should arrive a few minutes after the previous Santa Claus (#5) does. Many traits of this ancient Iranian religion of Aryan origin, which has strong similarities before its There are several issues that need to be hammered reformation to the faiths of Northern India and the out. As you read your character sheet, consider Viking or Norse religion in Northern Europe, are how your character might feel on these issues. present in modern Persians, Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Kurds, and Eurasian peoples.

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The origin of the religion is ascribed to the prophet The Prophet Zoroaster acknowledged devotion to Zarathushtra, who is commonly known in the no other god besides Ahura Mazda. The concept of Western world as Zoroaster, the Greek version of Dualism plays a role when speaking of the Spenta his name. Mainyu ("Holy Spirit") and the Angra Mainyu ("Evil Spirit"). These two have a constant battle, at Principle Beliefs: the end of which the Holy Spirit will prevail by the power of Ahura Mazda. Ahura Mazda is the beginning and the end, the creator of everything which can and cannot be seen, Zoroaster is generally accepted as a historical the Eternal, the Pure and the only Truth. Zoroastrian figure, but efforts to date Zoroaster vary widely. morality is summed up in the simple phrase, "Good Scholarly estimates are usually roughly near 1700 Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds" Daena is the BC. Others, however, give earlier estimates, making eternal Law, whose order was revealed to humanity him a candidate as the founder of the earliest through the Mathra-Spenta "Holy Words". Daena religion based on revealed scripture, while still has been used to mean religion, faith, law, even as a others place him in the 6th century BC, which translation for the Hindu and Buddhist term would make him contemporary to the rise of the Dharma: it is the correct order of the universe, Achaemenids. which humanity naturally must follow through the Kusti "Holy Path" in order to be a Behdini "Follower of the Proper/Good Religion".

Central to Zoroastrianism is the emphasis on moral choice; of life as a battle-ground between moral and immoral forces, represented by Spenta Mainyu the 'good spirit' emanation of Ahura Mazda, and his antithesis the Satanic Angra Mainyu. This opposition may have emerged from the Indo-Iranian distinction between two forms of spiritual beings, ahuras and daevas. In Zoroastrianism, daevas are portrayed as demonic and destructive while ahuras help to uphold the moral law.

Specific Zoroastrian concepts

Zoroastrianism teaches many of the concepts found in the major Abrahamic faiths such as Heaven, Hell, the Last Judgment, Satan, prophecy, the coming of the Messiah, angels, and evil spirits.

According to the Gathas humans are free and responsible beings. Predestination is rejected in Zoroastrian teaching. Humans bear responsibility for all situations they are in, and in the way they act to one another. Nothing in the Heavens and Earth has the power to force a being to do evil. Reward, punishment, happiness and grief all depend on how individuals live their life. Good befalls the people who do righteous deeds. Those who do evil have themselves to blame for their evil-doing. 39 of 39